Improvement in brackets



M. D. JONES. Bracket.

No. 208,319. Patented se t. 24 I878.

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MELVILLE D. JONES, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN BRACKETS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 208,319, dated September 24, 1878; application filed August 13, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MELVILLE D. JONES, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ornamental Shelf- Brackets, of which the following is a specification:

This invention relates to sectional shelfbracketsthat is to say, cast-metal brackets designed to be aflixed to walls to uphold shelves, &c., and made in parts secured together in a proper manner-the purpose of my invention being mainly to provide a bracket more ornamental in appearance than has heretofore been produced.

Brackets of the class to which my invention relates are composed practically of three elementary features: first, the top or horizontal piece, which is secured to and supports the shelf 5 second, the back piece, which is at right angles to the first and secured to the wall of an apartment and supports the whole; and, third, the center or front portion, which fills the triangular space between a line drawn from the extremities of the top and back, and is composed of various ornamental figures or designs.

It has been the custom of late to manufacture these brackets in three separate partsthe top or shelf-support as one, the back or wall-piece as the second, and the intermediate ornamental portion or center as the third,the object in thus making the bracket in parts bein g to obtain an ornamental face upon the exposed sides or faces of the top and back pieces, since in casting the bracket as a whole piece no ornament can be added to these parts, for the reason that the pattern would not draw from the sand of the mold, and in all the cases prior to my invention, so far as my knowledge extends, the entire triangular space before mentioned has been occupied by scroll or other ornamental work, while the front edge of the center has been so thin that no ornament could be added to it.

In the sectional brackets heretofore made, the inner or exposed ornamented faces of the top and back pieces have been cast with a central channel to receive the top and rear edges of the center or front piece to retain the latter in place when they are secured together, thereby seriously detracting from the ornamental appearance of the bracket.

My invention consists in a bracket having the top and back pieces, where cast separate, or as a whole, as may be preferred, and in dis pensing with the ordinary center portion or filling, employing in lieu of the latter a broad ornamental bar which extends from the outer extremities of the top and back pieces, leaving the intermediate space or 'inclosure open or without filling of any kind, thereby enabling me to preserve the outer or exposed faces of the top and back pieces entire and add any ornament that taste may dictate, while the front face of the center band is so wide that ornaments may be added to it, thereby greatly heighteningthe ornamental effects of the whole bracket.

The drawings accompanying this specifica tion represent, in Figure 1, an isometric view of a shelf-bracket made in accordance with my invention; in Fig. 2, a view of the shelf part of the bracket, together with a part of the wall-strap; and in Fig. 3, the upper portion of the ornamental intermediate bar detached from the rest of the bracket.

In these drawings, A represents a shelfbracket cast in metal, of which a is the top or shelf portion, and b the back or wall strap, these parts in the present instance being cast in one piece of metal, and of necessity at right angles to each other.

As no other portion of the bracket comes in contact with the inner faces of these parts a and b, and as they are cast alone by themselves, I am enabled to add to them any ornaments I may desire, and. these ornaments may, if desired, extend over the entire surface, as no channel or other disfigurations exist.

B in the drawings represents a band which extends from the outer extremities of the two parts a and b, leaving the intervening inclosure 0 unoccupied or unobstructed, unless by some ornament which extends rearward from and is supported by the bar B without connection with or obscuring the ornamental faces of the said parts a and b.

The bar B is cast independent of the anglepiece a b, and is connected at its upper end to the shelf-piece a by such a connection, 0, as will enable the two to be readily separated or connected, and at the same time constitute a brace or support to the portion a, while the lower ends of the bar B and wall-strap b are secured together by a screw, d, which screw, in addition to performing this office, may also screw into the wall, thereby confining the lower end of the bracket to the wall without additional screws.

I cast or otherwise form upon each edge of the bar B an inwardly-projecting lip or fin, e, which serves not only to strengthen and stiffen the bar, but to impart a solid and substantial appearance, and, if desired, the outer surfaces of these lips may be ornamented.

The front face of the band B is sufficiently broad to enable me to add any desired ornament in this respect, presenting a broad contrast with any other brackets, as in the latter, as before stated, no surface is presented at this point upon which ornaments may be added.

The bar B may be straight throughout its length, or curved or irregular, as taste may suggest, and, while being sufficiently strong to serve all the purposes of a brace, presents a light and graceful appearance.

When applying a bracket of the above description to a wall the angle-piece a bis secured in position by one or more screws passing the wall-piece b and screwing into the said wall. The bar B is now added, connecting its upper end to the bar a, as before stated, and finally the screw d is passed through the lower ends of B and b and screwed into the wall, thereby preventing sagging or misplacement of the said bar and confining the lower end of the bracket in place.

I claim In combination with the vertical and horizontal bars of a shelf-bracket, the front bar B, connected at its top with the bar a by an interlocking joint, such as herein shown, and at its bottom with the bar I) by a screw, cl, or its equivalent, as set forth.

MELVILLE D. JONES.

Witnesses:

LoUIs A. CURTIS, WM. TURELL ANDREWS, Jr. 

